Antsiranana Bay

Natural bay along the northeast coast of Madagascar

12°13′50″S 49°17′34″E / 12.23056°S 49.29278°E / -12.23056; 49.29278Ocean/sea sourcesIndian OceanBasin countriesMadagascarSettlementsAntsiranana

Antsiranana Bay (also known as Diego-Suarez Bay) is a natural bay that stretches close to 20 kilometres (12 mi) north to south along the northeast coast of Madagascar.^[1] The waters average a depth of more than 20 metres (66 ft), and the main channel can be as deep as 50 metres (160 ft).^[1] The bay, protected by a narrow inlet that provides shelter from strong Indian Ocean winds, is believed to be the result of a submerging coastline or a drowned river valley that formed many peninsulas around the bay.^[1]

The bay's principal city, Antsiranana, is located on a headland.

History

The bay was first recorded by European explorers in 1500; sailors in the service of Portugal named the bay for the leader of their expedition, Diogo Soares.^[1] The bay was later used for shelter by a number of pirates and privateers during the Golden Age of Piracy, and it has been speculated as a possible location of the legendary pirate colony Libertalia.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 124. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.